I got a 89GTA 350tpi, when I startup the engine, hot or cold, it ticks or pings pretty loud, and when a get running it stops about a minute or so after startup....It runs fine even when it pings at startup, there's no loss of power or nothing. But if i turn the engine off and back on almost right away it does'nt ping.

My truck used to do that i thought that it was rockers under the valve cover, when they warm up or get oil they stop making noise But im not sure about your problem just a thought id share with you

Thanks for the reply 3rd gen v8, you say your truck used to do that....it does'nt do it anymore?
And by the way the rockers not getting oil also crossed my mind, i'm wondering if i could have a blocked oil channel or maybe my oil pump is going....however my oil pressure is reading normal so i dunno....
any feedback will help guys. thanks

to this day the truck still dose it. i have no problems with it. you might want to check where that sound is comming from use a senthascope? i think that's what they call it and if its your rockers you can adjust them or check if they are getting oil up there by pulling of the valve cover. after all they just may be out of adjustment.

Piston slap

Oh yea i gess i forgot about the pistion slap! yea that would make sense also. like i stated just check where the sound is comming from and that will help to point you the the right direction. I hope its somthing minor.

Could also be a lifter. I had one that did that for a while. then when i changed the lifters (i found the one that was doing it and it just happens to be missing part of the bottom) If it is a higher milage engine, it is possible one of the lifter's is worn in it and no longer operating quite right causeing a tick.... only ticked until it got warm then quit.. my guess was it was a lack of oil in the lifter right away.

thanks a whole bunch for the feedback guys, looks like i have a busy weekend ahead of me, as some of you know, removing the passenger side valve cover on a 350 tpi with ac isn't a walk in the park. I'll post a follow-up when or if i find something.
Thanks again.